Room 406, Wednesday evening.

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel had gotten back to her room after her adventure in the sewers and immediately left a message for Ronan telling him not to expect her for her usual visit. After this afternoon, being out after dark didn't seem like the wisest thing.

She wasn't sure she she'd been thinking going out like that. It was stupid in retrospect. Hell, she knew it was stupid even as she walked through the dark tunnels. But despite last night's conversation with Bel, she still wasn't certain sticking a soul back into Angel was the right thing to do. Just because they wanted their friend back, was it fair to saddle Angel with a new burden of guilt because of the people Angelus had hurt?

Still frustrated with herself for not keeping the promise she'd made to Angel so long ago, and feeling slightly guilty for being relieved that she didn't because it still meant there was a chance to get her friend back even if it wasn't fair to him, Isabel scooped up Annie and cuddled her on the bed, watching as the last of the afternoon light faded. She hoped tomorrow she wouldn't have a reason to regret what she didn't do today.

[ooc: Door's closed, post is open]

Comments

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

A still blanket-clad Lana wandered up and knocked on the door.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

After a long minute of deciding if she actually wanted to talk to anyone, Isabel waved a hand to flip on the light. She didn't want to be caught brooding in the dark. "It's open," she called.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana opened the door, but hesitated in the doorway. "Hey... You busy?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No. Just thinking," Isabel shrugged. "How are you feeling? I heard radio."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana shivered and wrapped the blankets a little more tightly around her. "I'm going to be fine," she said quietly. "Lost - well, you know." She sighed. "I'm not actually technically supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be in my room resting again, but I had to get out."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, there's only so much staring at the walls you can do," she replied. "Before they start feeling like they should be bars."

Isabel still had some staring to do.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded. "And I'm still tired and weak, but if I stayed in bed one more minute... I went out earlier to see Chris, but if I go back he's just going to want me to lie down and rest."

She perched on the edge of a chair. "How are you doing? I know you're a good friend, too."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm okay." No she wasn't. But she'd gotten very good at denial. "I just wish it was over. One way or another."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Lana said quietly. "I... in a way I'm glad I don't have to be involved in..." She swallowed hard. "Anything. I never knew him when he wasn't Angel."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm going to talk to Xander. See what people are planning. I promised him once..." Isabel shrugged again. Maybe if she was with other people. "Well, I owe it to him."

She looked down as Annie jumped back in her lap. "I didn't either." And after meeting him today, she was more then happy that she hadn't.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"If I can help..." Lana bit her lip. "Even, well, even if you or someone else just wants to talk. I don't know what else I can do."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I appreciate it," she said sincerely. "I'm sorry. It was just a bad day."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Sorry for what?" Lana asked. "I just wanted a friend to talk to and you were here and now I feel less alone."

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt headed up to Isabel's room, figuring she would be back from her Wednesday visit to the clinic by now. He knocked on the door.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel had left the light on after Lana left. Somehow sitting in the dark was a little too broody, even with the mood she was in.

At the sound of the knock she sighed, fairly certain she knew who it was. The thought of pretending she wasn't there crossed her mind briefly, but Wyatt would expect her back from the clinic by now and if she wasn't here, she was pretty sure he would not be happy.

"It's open."

[blessed_twice]

"Hey, gorgeous," Wyatt said, coming inside. "No Top Model tonight, whatever are we to do?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel smiled, but it wasn't the happiest. Blame the studios and the writer's strike. Really. "There's always Food Network and whatever holiday special is on."

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt drew closer and frowned, picking up on Isabel's mood. "What's wrong?" he said, crouching beside the bed.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Bad day," she shrugged, unconsciously pushing her hair back. Which would give him a nice view of her puffy cheek and the faint bruise that was developing.

[blessed_twice]

"What happened?" Wyatt demanded, seeing the bruise. "Who did that?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't matter," Isabel said. "It was...well, let's just say I was stupid." Yeah, this was not going to be a fun explanation.

[blessed_twice]

"Isabel," Wyatt said, reaching for her hand. "Tell me. Please." Because he was totally going to kill whoever did it.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You need to promise me you're not going to leave." Now her brain cells start working.

[blessed_twice]

"I'm not going to leave," Wyatt said. Maybe. "It wasn't Ronan, was it?" Unlikely, but that was who she was with on Wednesday nights. . . .

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"What? Ronan? No way!" Isabel said, dumbfounded that Wyatt would even suggest it.

Still shaking her head, she finally admitted quietly. "I ran into Angelus."